U Khin Maung Naing ( 14 ) G 12 Physics

CHAPTER (2)
FORCE IN CIRCULAR MOTION

According to Newton’s second law, an object that is accelerating must have a net force acting on it.
An object moving in a circle, such as a ball on the end of a string, must therefore have a force applied
to it to keep it moving in the circle. This force is known as the centripetal force.
In this chapter, centripetal force as well as the concepts of centrifugal force will be studied.

FORCES CAUSING CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION

# It has been shown in the previous chapter that for uniform circular motion (speed v = constant), the
acceleration is centripetal acceleration which is directed towards the centre of the circle at any moment.
# According to Newton’s second law, an object in a circular motion requires a net force directed towards
the centre of the circle. This net force is called the centripetal force. (Fig 1)
# In the absence of the centripetal force, the object would not move along a circle but move in a straight
line, according to Newton’s first law.

Fig 1. Direction of centripetal force, centripetal acceleration, and linear velocity in uniform circular motion

Using Newton’s second law of motion, Fnet = m a , The magnitude of the centripetal force is
m v2
FC  m aC  (1)
r
Substitution v = r  in Eq. (1), FC  m r  2 (2)

# For an object to move in a circle, a force is needed to deviate the object from its straight line path, and
accelerate towards the centre of the circle.
# For example, to swing a ball on the end of a string in a circle, we pull on the string, and the string exerts
the force (tension) on the ball.
# The tension in the string provides the required centripetal force for the ball to keep moving in circular
path.
# Some examples of the centripetal force are the gravitational force of the earth on the moon orbiting the
earth, the gravitational force of the sun on the planets orbiting the sun, and the electric force acting on an
electron orbiting the nucleus as illustrated in Fig 2.

Fig 2. Some examples of the centripetal forces

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Different Forms Of Centripetal Force
There are different forces which can provide centripetal force depending on the motion of bodies under
various conditions. A few more examples of the centripetal forces are described as follows.

(i) Tension force (T)

When whirling a body attached to a string, a tension force is originated. If this tension force is normal to the
direction of motion of a body moving at constant speed, this force causes the body to move in a circular path.
Thus, the tension force behaves as a centripetal force.
(ii) Gravitational force ( FG )
An attractive force exists between the sun and the earth in a direction perpendicular to the path of the earth.
This force causes the earth to move in a circular path around the sun. In this case, the gravitational force
provides as a centripetal force.
(iii)Electric force ( Fe )
The Coulomb attractive force between the nucleus and the electron acts as the required centripetal force for
the electron to move around the nucleus.
(iv)Frictional force ( Ff )
When a car turns in a circular path or a curve, a frictional force exists between the road and the car tires.
This frictional force acts normally to the direction of motion of the car, causing the car to move in a curved
path. In this case, the frictional force behaves as a centripetal force.
(v) Normal force ( FN )
When a car moves in a circular path which is inclined to the horizontal, the reaction force of the road acts
normally to the car. Resolving this reaction force (normal force) into two components, the horizontal compo-
nent acts towards the centre of the circle and helps the car to mov.e in a curved path. The horizontal component
of normal force is the required centripetal force.
(vi)Upward thrust (Lifting Force) on a plane ( FL )
The upward thrust (lifting force) acts normally to an aeroplane body. When the aeroplane tilts, the horizon-
tal component acts normally to the motion of the aeroplane, causing the aeroplane to turn in a curve. This
means that the horizontal component of the lifting force on the aeroplane provides the centripetal force.

Banking of Roads
# When an automobile drives round a curve, it must have a force exerted towards the centre of the curve.
# On a flat road (unbanked road), this force is supplied by friction between the tires and the road.
# As a car makes a turn on unbanked road, the frictional force Fr acting upon the tires of the car provides
the required centripetal force for circular motion as shown in Figure 3. Hence,
m v2
Ff  (3)
r
where m is mass of the car, v is speed of the car and r is radius of the path.

Fig 3. (a) Unbanked road (b) Frictional force provides centripetal force
U Khin Maung Naing ( 16 ) G 12 Physics
# If the frictional force is not sufficient, such as under wet and slippery conditions, the car will skid out of the
circular path.
# To prevent this, the road must be banked to provide the necessary centripetal force to the automobiles so
that they take a safe turn without skidding.
# Banking of roads is raising the outer edge of the curved road higher than the inner edge.
# The angle that the inclined track makes with horizontal is called angle of banking.
# The normal force FN exerted by a banked road is perpendicular to the road.
# Horizontal component of this normal force provides the required centripetal force.
# For every banked curve, there is a limiting speed at which the entire centripetal force is supplied by the
horizontal component of the normal force, so that frictional force between the tires and the road is not
required.
# In this case, the horizontal component of the normal force, FN sin , towards the centre of the curve of
radius r just equals the centripetal force ( mv2 / r ) as shown in Fig 4.

m v2
FN sin  = (4)
r
Since there is no vertical motion, the net force on car in y direction is zero.
FN sin  + (mg ) = 0
FN sin  = mg
FN sin  m v2 / r
FN cos  =
mg

v2
tan  = (5)
rg

According to Eq (5), the banking angle of a road  is chosen so that this condition holds for the limiting
speed v.

(a) (b)
Fig 4.(a) Banked Road (b) horizontal component of normal force provides centripetal force

Eg-1: A jet plane is flying around the airport with a speed of 800 km h-1 along a circular path with a radius
of 2 km as shown in gien figure. At what angle must the wings of the plane be banked?

Ans: speed of jet plane, v = 800 km h-1 = 800 x 103 m / 3600 s = 222.22 ms-1
radius of circular path r = 2 km = 2 x 103 m
the wings of the plane must be banked an angle  with vertical.
the banked angle  of the wings of the plane is,
U Khin Maung Naing ( 17 ) G 12 Physics

v2
tan  =
rg

(222.22) 2
tan  =
2 x 103 x 9.8
tan  = 2.519
 = 68.35o

Eg-2: A 60 cm rope is tied to the handle of a bucket which is then whirled in a vertical circle. The mass of
the bucket is 3 kg. If the tension of the rope at the lowest point in its path is 50 N, find the speed of
the bucket at that point.

Ans: mass of bucket, m = 3 kg

length of rope = radius of vertical circle, r = 60 cm = 0.6 m
tension force on bucket, T = 50 N
weight of bucket, w = mg = 3 x 9.8 = 29.4 N
the net force, Fnet = T – w = 50 – 29.4 = 20.6 N
Since Fnet provides the centripetal acceleration, Fnet = FC = 20.6 N
mv 2
Fnet = FC =
r
3 v2
20.6 =
0.6
12.36
v2 =
3
v2 = 4.12
v2 = 2.03 ms-1

RE-1: What is the banking angle for an expressway off-ramp curve of radius 50 m at a limiting speed of
50 km h-1?
(13.89) 2
Ans: radius, r = 50 m tan  =
50 x 9.8
50 x 103 m 192.93
speed, v = 50km h-1 = = 13.89 ms-1 tan  =
3600 s 490

the banking angle,  = ? tan  = 0.3937

v2
tan  =  = 21.48o
rg

RE-2: Choose the correct answer.

A ball attached to a string is whirled around a vertical circle. At the bottom of the arc,
A. it has no net force.
B. it has a net force acting upward.
C. it has a net force acting downward.

Ans: The correct answer is B. it has a net force acting upward.

U Khin Maung Naing ( 18 ) G 12 Physics
CENTRIPETAL AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCES
# In circular motion, there are two different forces that are encountered. They are centripetal force and
centrifugal force.
# Centripetal force is the force acting towards the centre of the circular path around which the object is
moving whereas the centrifugal force appears to act in a direction pointing away from the centre.
# Consider, for exampie, a person whirls a ball on the end of a string in a horizontal circle around his head.
The person pulls the string to exert an inward force on the ball.
# This force is the required centripetal force by the ball to move around the circular path.
# According to Newton’s third law the ball exerts a reaction force on the hand as shown in Fig 5.
v
m
r
centripetal
reaction force
force

path travelled by ball

Fig 5. Centripetal force on the ball and its reaction force on the hand

# There is a misconception that this reaction force is the outward-directed centrifugal force acting on the ball.
# Except centripetal force, there is no other force acting on the ball along the string.
# As another example, consider a person on a moving car.
# When the car is moving with constant velocity along a straight road, there is no net force on the person.
Hence, the person feels no force acting on him. However, when the car moves around a curve the person
feels an outward force exerted on him. This is the centrifugal force caused by the effect of inertia.
# Actually, the centrifugal force is not a real force. It is an apparent or fictitious force which is equal and
opposite to the centripetal force.
# Although centrifugal force is not a real force, the concept of centrifugal force can be applied in rotating
devices, such as centrifuges, washing machines, centrifugal pumps, centrifugal governors and centrifugal
clutches.

Centrifuge

A centrifuge is a piece of equipment that puts an object in rotation around

a fixed axis (spins it in a circle). In a laboratory centrifuge that uses sample
test tubes, the radial acceleration causes denser particles to settle to the
bottom of the tube, while low density substances rise to the top. This
effect is known as sedimentation principle.

Centrifugal Pump

Centrifugal pump is a hydraulic machine which converts mechanical

energy into hydraulic energy (i.e. pressure energy) by the use of
centrifugal force acting on the fluid. The rotating impeller moves
water or other fluids by using centrifugal force. volute
U Khin Maung Naing ( 19 ) G 12 Physics
Washing Machine
The centrifugal action of a washing machine is
used in spm drying the clothes. When all the
clothes are completely washed, they are spun very
fast and excess water is removed completely with
the help of centrifugal force.

Centrifugal Governor
The centrifugal governor is a device used to measure and regulate the speed of a machine, such as an
engine. The centrifugal governors consist of two balls of equal mass, which are attached to the arms. As the
engine is working, these balls also revolve around the spindle at a certain speed and maintain at a position
due to the centrifugal force.

supply of working
fluid

Comparison Between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force

Centripetal Force Centrifugal Force

(i) Centripetal force is the force acting on an object (i) Centrifugal force in a circular motion is not a
in circular motion which is directed toward the real force; it acts radially away from the ccentre
axis of rotation or centre of curvature. of the circle. It results from the effect of inertia.

(ii) If a car is travelling through a curve on a circular (ii) When a car in motion takes a sudden turn in a
horizontal road, the centripetal force provided curved path, passengers in the car experience
bythe force of friction between the tires of the an outward push. This is due to the centrifugal
vehicle and the road surface allows the car to force acting on passengers.
negotiate the turn.

(iii) A setallite orbiting a planet is supported by the (iii) Removing the excess water by spin drying
centripetal force. clothes in a washing machine is with the help
of centrifugal force.
U Khin Maung Naing ( 20 ) G 12 Physics
Eg-3: An athlete weighing 790 N is running a curve at a speed of 6 m s-1 in an arc. The radius of curvature
of arc is 5 m. Find the centripetal force acting on him. Which force provides the centripetal force?
What will happen to him if the radius of curvature is smaller?

Ans: weight of athlete, w = 790 N 80.61 x (6) 2

speed, v = 6 ms-1 FC =
5
radius, r = 5 m
centripetal force, FC = ? 2901.96
FC =
w 5
mass of athlete, m = (w=mg)
g FC = 580.4 N
790
m = Frictional force between the feet and the ground
9.8
m = 80.61 kg provides the centripetal force. If the radius of
curvature is smaller, the centripetal force will
The required centripetal force to run a curve,
become greater. He will slip since the frictional
m v2
FC = force is less than the required centripetal force.
r

SUMMARY

Centripetal force is the force acting on an object in circular motion which is directed towards the axis of
rotation (or) centre of curvature.

Centrifugal force in a circular motion is not a real force; it acts radially away from the centre of the circle.
It results from the effect of inertia.

Ex-1: Imagine a car driving over a hillock at a constant speed. Once the car has reached the apex of the
hillock, does it have the acceleration? If so, what is the direction of acceleration?
Ans: When a car drives over a hillock at a constant speed, it has centripetal acceleration which is directed
towards the center of the hillock.

Ex-2: Does the centripetal force and centrifugal force constitute an action-reaction pair? Explain.
Ans: No, centripetal force and centrifugal force do not constitute an action-reaction pair.
Centripetal force is a real force that acts on an object towards the center of a circular path.
Centrifugal force is an apparent force that appears to push an object away from the center of the path,
but it is not a real force.

Ex-3: An object is in a uniform circular motion. Which of the following statements must be true?
A. The net force acting on the object is zero.
B. The velocity of the object is constant.
C. The speed of the object is constant.
D. The acceleration of the object is constant.
Ans: The correct statement is C. The speed of the object is constant.

Ex-4: For an object moving in a circle with constant angular velocity, what is the direction of acceleration
of the object?
Ans: the direction of acceleration of the object is towards the center of the circle.
This acceleration is called centripetal acceleration.
U Khin Maung Naing ( 21 ) G 12 Physics
Ex-5: When a bob is swinging in the vertical circle at which point on the circular part is the tension in the rope
the greatest?
Ans: When a bob is swinging in the vertical circle, the tension in the rope is greatest at the bottom of the
circular path.

Ex-6: A 0.15 kg ball on the end of 1.1 m long cord (negligible mass) is swung in a vertical circle.
(i) Determine the minimum speed the ball must have at the top of its arc so that the ball continues
moving in a circle. (ii) Calculate the tension in the cord at the bottom of the arc, assuming the ball is
moving at twice the speed of part (i).
Ans: mass, m = 0.15 kg (ii) tension, T = ?
radius, r = 1.1 m At the bottom of the arc, speed is twice
(i) minimum speed, v = ? v = 2 x 3.28 ms-1
At the top of the arc, v = 6.56 ms-1
the minimum speed the ball must have is
when the tension in the cord is zero. m v2
FC =
r
FC = m g
0.15 x (6.56)2
mv 2
FC =
FC = 1.1
r
6.46
m v2 FC =
mg = 1.1
r
FC = 5.87 N
m g r
v2 = T = FC + m g
m
T = 5.87 + (0.15 x 9.8)
v = gr
T = 5.87 + 1.47
v = 9.8 x 1.1
T = 7.34 N
v = 3.28 ms-1

Ex-7: An 8.3 kg mass is attached to a string that has a breaking strength of 1500 N. If the mass is whirled in a
horizontal circle of radius 80 cm, what maximum speed can it have?
Ans: mass, m = 8.3 kg
breaking strength, T = 1500 N
radius, r = 80 cm = 0.8 m
speed, v = ?
The tension in the string is equal to the centripetal force required to keep the mass moving
in a circular path:
Tension = Centripetal force
T = FC
m v2
T =
r
T r
v2 =
m
1500 x 0.8
v2 =
8.3
v = 144.58
2

v = 144.58
v = 12.02 ms-1
U Khin Maung Naing ( 22 ) G 12 Physics
Ex-8: An aeroplane is circling above an airport in a horizontal circle at a speed of 400 km h-1. The banking
angle of the wings is 20°. What is the radius of the circular path?
400 x 1000
Ans: speed of airplane, v = 400 km/h = = 111.11 ms-1
3600
banking angle,  = 20o
radius, r = ?
(111.11) 2
r =
v2 0.36397 x 9.8
tan  =
rg 12345.43
r =
v2 3.57
r = r = 3458.1 m
tan 20o x g

Ex-9: What is the tension in a 1 m string that is spinning a 0.5 kg stone in a horizontal circle with 3 rps?
Ans: radius, r = 1 m
mass, m = 05 kg
angular velocity,  = 3 rps = 3 rev s-1 = 3 (2 rad) s-1 = 6  rad s-1
tension, T = ?
v = r
T = FC T = m r 2
m v2 T = 0.5 x 1 x (6)2
T =
r T = 0.5 x 36 x 3.142 x 3.142
m (r ) 2
T = 177.7 N
T =
r

Ex-10: A curved roadway has a radius of curvature of 200 m and a banking angle of 10°. What is the highest
speed at which a car can round the curve safely? (Neglect the friction between tire and the road)
Ans: radius of curvature, r = 200 m
banking angle in degrees,  = 10o
highest safe speed, v = ? v2 = 345.55
v2 v = 345.55
tan  =
rg v = 18.58 ms-1
v2 = tan 10o x 200 x 9.8 The maximum safe speed at which a car can
v2 = 0.1763 x 200 x 9.8 round the curve safely is approximately 18.6

Ex-11: In an atom, an electron moves in a circular path around the nucleus. The speed of the electron is
approximately 2.2 x 106 ms-1. Find the centripetal force acting on the electron as it revolves in a
circular orbit of radius 0.53 x 10-10 m. (me = 9.1 x 10-31 kg)
Ans: the mass of the electron, m = 9.1 x 10-31 kg
the speed of the electron, v = 2.2 x 106 ms-1
the radius of the circular path, r = 0.53 x 10-10 m
the centripetal force, FC = ?
m v2 9.1 x 1031 x 4.84 x 1012 x 1010
FC = FC =
r 0.53

FC =
9.1 x 1031 x  2.2 x 10 
6 2
FC = 83.1 x 10-9 N
0.53 x 1010
U Khin Maung Naing ( 23 ) G 12 Physics

Additional Practice Questions

Q-1: A speed skater goes around a turn with a 31 m radius. The skater has a speed of 14 ms-1 and experiences
a centripetal force of 460N. What is the mass of the skater?

Q-2: A Ferris wheel with a 38 m radius and tangential speed of 5.0 ms-1 has a 76 kg passenger riding it.
What is the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the Ferris wheel passenger at the top and
at the bottom?

Q-3: A 200kg motorcycle is dragged around a 12m tall post with the velocity of 10 m/s. The 12m can also
be considered as the radius of the circular motion if the post is bent and kept flat on the ground.
Calculate the centripetal force from the above given values?

Q-4: Two friends are having a conversation. Anna says a satellite in orbit is in free fall because the satellite
keeps falling toward Earth. Tom says a satellite in orbit is not in free fall because the acceleration due to
gravity is not 9.80 ms-2. Who do you agree with and why?

Q-5: (a) A 22.0-kg child is riding a playground merry-go-round that is rotating at 40.0 rev/min.
What centripetal force is exerted if he is 1.25 m from its center? (b) What centripetal force
is exerted if the merry-go-round rotates at 3.00 rev/min and he is 8.00 m from its center?
(c) Compare each force with his weight.

Q-6: What is the ideal banking angle for a gentle turn of 1.20-km radius on a highway with a 105 km/h
speed limit (about 65 mi/h), assuming everyone travels at the limit?

Q-7: Railroad tracks follow a circular curve of radius 500.0 m and are banked at an angle of 5.0°.
For trains of what speed are these tracks designed?

Q-8: 0.3 kg ball is attached to a 1.2 m long cord and is swung in a vertical circle. If the tension in the
cord at the bottom of the circle is 50 N, what is the minimum tension the cord can have at the top
of the circle for the ball to continue moving in a circle?

Q-9: A penny, placed on a spinning record, rotates at 33(1/3) revolutions per minute when it is placed 10 cm
from the center of the record (mass of penny = 2.5 grams). (a) What is the tangential and angular speed
of the penny as it moves around the center of the record? (b) What is the magnitude of the centripetal
force necessary to keep the penny moving in a circular path?

Q-10: Norman Neutron swings a rubber ball attached to a string over his head in a horizontal, circular path.
The piece of string is 1.5 m long and the ball makes 120 complete turns each minute. (a) What is the
average speed of the ball? (b) What is the ball’s centripetal acceleration?